Author: DjPaulT

July 30, 2025

Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy (US 12″) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Originally released in 1988, “She Drives Me Crazy” marked the explosive return of British trio Fine Young Cannibals. Issued as the lead single from their second (and final) album The Raw & the Cooked (1989), the track became an instant classic—showcasing Roland Gift’s unmistakable falsetto and the band’s clever fusion of pop, soul, and funk.

Written by frontman Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, and co-produced by the band along with David Z (a longtime Prince collaborator), “She Drives Me Crazy” has one of the most iconic snare sounds of the era. The distinctive “pop” of the drum was no accident—David Z employed an inventive technique during the recording sessions at Prince’s famed Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. The snare part was recorded separately, then played back through a speaker placed on top of the snare drum while a mic underneath captured the sound again—creating that sharp, tight punch that helped the track cut through on both radio and the dancefloor.

Chart-wise, the single became the band’s biggest hit. In the UK, it reached No. 5—making it their highest-charting release at home. But it was in the U.S. that the song really took off, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for a week in April 1989. It also topped charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, and Spain, cementing Fine Young Cannibals’ global success. Two different music videos were shot for the track—one by French choreographer/director Philippe Decouflé and another by Pedro Romhanyi.

Today on Burning the Ground, I’m featuring the U.S. 12″ single, which includes three rare remixes by Justin Strauss: a club-friendly extended remix a Dub, and a tight edit version—none of which have been released digitally or appeared on commercial CD (except for a scarce promo) which included the Justin Strauss Remix. Strauss’s approach adds extra rhythmic space and re-sequencing, extending the groove while preserving the quirky charm of the original.

If, like me, you spent countless nights in record stores or at clubs chasing down mixes you knew weren’t on your regular 12″, this one’s for you. A peak pop moment, reimagined with the dancefloor in mind.

SIDE ONE:
She Drives Me Crazy (The Justin Strauss Remix) 7:42
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

She Drives Me Crazy (Single Remix) 3:48
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

SIDE A:
She Drives Me Crazy (David Z Remix) 7:05
Remix – David Z.

She Drives Me Crazy (Driven Crazy Dub) 5:33
Edited By – Chep Nunez*
Engineer [Remix] – Daniel Abraham
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Producer [Additional], Remix – Justin Strauss

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard 12 Inch Singles Sales	#3
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#54
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: I.R.S. Records – IRS-23926
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Pinckneyville
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Pop, Stage & Screen
Style: Dance-pop, House

CREDITS:

Management – Tony Meilandt
Producer – David Z.
Written-By – Steele*, Gift*

NOTES:
The labels state Side One and Side A.

Tracks A1/A2/B2: Additional production for Just Right Productions.
Track A1 is also known as the “U.S. Mix”.

Management is written “Tony Meilandt AGM Management”

This release was pressed at the MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville .

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

July 29, 2025

Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy (US 12″ Promo) (1989)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Today on Burning the Ground, I’m featuring a true promo-only gem from the tail end of the ’80s dance explosion: Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy,” the U.S. 12″ promo issued by MCA Records in 1989. This release was aimed squarely at club and radio DJs and includes six exclusive remixes not commercially available elsewhere—crafted by none other than legendary remixer and MCA A&R man Louil Silas Jr.

“She Drives Me Crazy” was the lead single from The Raw & the Cooked, the sophomore (and final) album by the British trio Fine Young Cannibals. Released in early 1989, the track quickly became a global smash, hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian RPM chart, and topping charts across Europe. With its instantly recognizable snare snap and Roland Gift’s anguished falsetto, it was as odd as it was infectious—a rare collision of post-punk quirk and commercial pop genius.

But what makes this promo particularly exciting is what isn’t on the retail shelves.

📀 The Remixes
The promo-only U.S. 12″ features exclusive Louil Silas Jr. club and radio edits, reworking the original with added rhythmic punch and a more DJ-friendly structure. Silas, known for his polished R&B and dance remixes, gives the track a tighter, funkier foundation while preserving its tension and distinctive sonic identity. These mixes lean slightly more into the urban/club territory, reflecting the late ’80s U.S. remix culture that often reshaped British imports for American dancefloors.

🎤 Monie Love Rap Version
Also included is a special remix featuring a rap by British MC Monie Love, who was just breaking into the U.S. scene at the time. Her verse adds a dynamic, female perspective that contrasts sharply—but playfully—with the neurotic male energy of the original. It’s laid over a remix that sits closer to the album version than the club mixes but features subtle edits and production tweaks to mesh with Monie’s bars. This version was never commercially released and remains a rare slice of cross-Atlantic collaboration.

🔊 Promo-Only Appeal
As a promo, this 12″ wasn’t intended for retail sale, making it a sought-after collector’s item today—especially for fans of late-’80s remix culture. The exclusive mixes, tighter radio edits, and Monie Love feature encapsulate a time when labels went the extra mile to service dance floors and radio stations with unique content tailored to regional tastes.

Whether you were dancing to this in 1989 or discovering it anew, this promo captures She Drives Me Crazy at its most experimental and remix-forward. It’s a reminder of how major hits could take on a second life in the hands of remixers like Silas and boundary-pushers like Monie Love.

Stay tuned for more promo-only treasures coming soon to Burning the Ground.

SIDE A:
She Drives Me Crazy (Extended Version) 8:25
Featuring – Monie Love

She Drives Me Crazy (Radio Rap Version) 5:44
Featuring – Monie Love

SIDR B:
She Drives Me Crazy (Radio Edit) 5:20
She Drives Me Crazy (Instrumental) 4:53
She Drives Me Crazy (Percussapella) 4:53
She Drives Me Crazy (Bonus Beats) 4:35

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard 12 Inch Singles Sales	#3
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	#1
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	#54
1989	She Drives Me Crazy	U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	#5

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – L33-17832
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Indie Rock

CREDITS:

Producer – David Z., Fine Young Cannibals
Remix – Louil Silas Jr.

NOTES:
From the LP “The Raw & the Cooked”

Promotional Only – Not For Sale

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

July 26, 2025

Burning The Ground Turns 15!

🔥 Celebrating a Decade and a Half of Remix Resurrection 🔥

Fifteen years ago, Burning The Ground lit its first digital spark—and what a fire it’s become. What started as a personal passion project to share rare 12″ remixes from the golden age of vinyl has grown into a global community of collectors, remix lovers, nostalgia seekers, and music obsessives who all share one thing: a love for the long version.

🎧 A Labor of Love
Back in 2010, the mission was simple: to preserve and share the extended, often-forgotten dance mixes that defined the club culture of the 1980s and 1990s. These weren’t just versions of songs—they were whole experiences: dub breakdowns, vocal reworks, synth passages, re-edits that transformed hits into epics.

Each post has been lovingly curated, ripped from original vinyl, cleaned, edited, and presented with the kind of detail and respect these mixes deserve. And over the years, it’s become more than just a blog—it’s an archive, a time capsule, and a celebration of music that was never meant to be forgotten.

📀 Highlights From The Journey

- Thousands of 12″ singles digitized and shared
- Countless rare promo-only and remix service exclusives uncovered
- Deep dives into artists from chart-toppers to one-hit wonders
- Special themed events—Disco Fridays, Halloween Mixes, Pride Month sets, and more
- H Fridays, Halloween Mixes, Pride Month sets, and more
- A community of passionate readers who keep the comments section alive with memories, trivia, and appreciation

💿 Why It Still Matters
In a world of compressed streams and algorithm-fed playlists, Burning The Ground remains proudly analog at heart. These remixes weren’t designed for shuffle—they were crafted for the dancefloor, the roller rink, the after-hours crowd. They were about movement, sweat, seduction, and story. And they deserve to be heard again, in full fidelity.

🙏 Thank You
To everyone who’s ever visited, downloaded, commented, or shared a post—you are the reason this blog still burns bright. Your support, encouragement, and shared love for this music keeps me going, even through personal challenges, recovery periods, and the changing tides of the internet.

A special thank you to those of you who’ve been with me since the beginning. Your loyalty, kindness, and connection over these 15 years have meant more than I can ever put into words.

Here’s to 15 years of basslines, breakdowns, and bonus beats—and to many more ahead.

Love & Light, Let’s keep dancing.

—Paul

July 25, 2025

D&M – On The Shelf (US 12″ Promo) (1978)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date May 10, 2011

Pure pop-disco heaven from America’s favorite siblings — Donny & Marie Osmond! Today’s Disco Friday spotlight shines on their glittery, feel-good groove “On The Shelf,” a rare 12″ promo single released in 1978 on Polydor Records.

This infectious tune marked a key moment in Osmond history: it became the final song by any Osmond to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 1970s, peaking at #38. While disco was ruling the airwaves and the Osmonds’ chart reign was winding down, Donny and Marie took one last dazzling swing at pop radio—and it stuck.

Originally featured in the duo’s 1978 big-screen misfire Goin’ Coconuts, “On The Shelf” was a highlight in an otherwise forgettable film. The movie bombed at the box office, effectively ending their Hollywood hopes. Ironically, around this same time, Marie Osmond was offered the lead role of Sandy in the smash hit Grease—but turned it down, reportedly uncomfortable with the film’s message of “tarting yourself up to get the guy.” She passed on Grease… but said yes to Coconuts.

Still, the late ’70s were prime time for the duo, thanks to their hit ABC variety series Donny & Marie, which ran from 1976 to 1979 and cemented their place in pop culture. And while the movie fizzled, “On The Shelf” stood on its own as a tightly produced disco-pop nugget—full of sweet harmonies, swirling strings, and that unmistakable Osmond charm.

🕺 The 12″ promo release contains the same version on both sides—but it’s become a collectible oddity for disco DJs and Osmond completists alike.

Both Donny and Marie would go on to future chart success—Donny with a surprise pop comeback in 1989–90, and Marie hitting the country charts in the mid-‘80s—but “On The Shelf” remains their glittering farewell to the disco decade.

The track duration on the label is incorrect. The actual track time is 4:17.

SIDE A:
On The Shelf 4:17
Arranged By – John D’Andrea
Written-By – Peter Yellowstone, Steve Voice

SIDE AA:
On The Shelf 4:17
Arranged By – John D’Andrea
Written-By – Peter Yellowstone, Steve Voice

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	On The Shelf	U.S. Billboard Hot 100	#38

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – PRO 054
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco

CREDITS:

Producer – Michael Lloyd

NOTES:
For Programming Use Only
Promotional Copy Not For Sale

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.